LuTMA.org

LuTMA Constitution

The Lutheran Transitional Ministry Association (LuTMA) is registered as a Non-Profit Corporation under the laws of the State of Minnesota #71594.

ARTICLE C-1 PURPOSE:

On behalf of its members the Lutheran Transitional Ministry Association (LuTMA) seeks to support and renew Lutheran congregations in transition by:

Promoting general awareness of transitional ministry and specific issues related to the various transitions’ congregations may experience;
Advocating high performance standards in its practice,
Supporting the Church's servants called to transitional ministry
Developing and offering programs for the training and continuing education of transitional ministry practitioners and
Pursuing sources of funding and exercising good stewardship of resources.

LuTMA will accomplish the work authorized by its members through its Board and committees.

ARTICLE C-2 MEMBERSHIP:

There are two classes of members:

Voting Members: Lutheran transitional ministry practitioners who pay an annual membership fee and seek to advance the mission of the Lutheran Transitional Ministry Association
Affiliate Members: Transitional ministry practitioners who are not members of a Lutheran denomination and institutions, organizations and denominations who provide annual financial support and seek to advance the mission of the Lutheran Transitional Ministry Association.

ARTICLE C-3 FUNCTIONS:

To foster communications between and on behalf of its members;
To coordinate an annual conference of transitional ministers;
To develop programs for the training and continuing education of transitional ministers
To seek funding for training, education and other programs;
To coordinate programs and projects as requested by the membership.

ARTICLE C-4 GOVERNANCE:

The LuTMA Board shall be composed of four to seven members elected by the voting members.
The officers of the corporation shall be Chair, Secretary, and Treasurer, with the usual duties of those offices. Officers will be elected by the Board.
Board members may serve a maximum of two consecutive three-year terms.
Board members shall be eligible for election for subsequent terms following a one-year hiatus after serving six years.
In the event of an unexpired term, a replacement shall be appointed by the Board to serve until the next Annual Meeting. The replacement representative shall be eligible for a full term upon completion of the unexpired term.
No denomination shall have more than 50% representation of the members on the Board.
The Board may hire staff personnel as needed.
The Board may appoint task groups and committees as deemed necessary to carry out its work. Task group and committee members shall be voting members of LuTMA.
The Treasurer need not be a member of the Board. If not a member, the Treasurer will be accorded voice but not vote.

ARTICLE C-5 REPORTING AND COMMUNICATIONS:

The Board shall make regular reports to the members and shall prepare a report and agenda for the Annual Meeting of the membership. The Annual Meeting shall take place during the annual conference unless the Board finds it necessary to schedule the meeting at another time.
The Board shall make provision for regular communications to the members through print and/or electronic media.

ARTICLE C-6 FINANCES:

The Board will develop an operating budget and determine an appropriate annual dues structure.
Any proceeds that may be received from other sources will be administered by the Treasurer
The fiscal year shall be January 1 to December 31.
The Treasurer shall provide monthly reports to the Board and shall provide a year- end report at the Annual Meeting.
A periodic financial review shall be conducted at the direction of the Board and a report of the financial review provided to the Board and available to the members at the next Annual Meeting.

ARTICLE C-7 REVISION OF THE CONSTITUTION:

Revision of the Constitution of The Lutheran Transitional Ministry Association may be made by action of the Board with ratification by majority vote of the current voting members present at the next Annual Meeting. Notice of proposed changes shall be submitted to the members for review at least 30 days prior to the Annual Meeting.

ARTICLE C-8 DISSOLUTION:

Upon dissolution, any remaining assets of the corporation after the payment of outstanding obligations shall be disbursed among the Lutheran denominations represented by its current voting membership. Assets will be distributed according to the percentage of members holding voting membership in each denomination as of the date of dissolution. Funds will be given to the denominations with encouragement to use them for the support of ministry education.

Lutma By-Laws

ARTICLE B-1 MEMBERSHIP

There are two classes of membership:
1. Voting Members: Lutheran transitional ministry practitioners who pay an annual membership fee and seek to advance the ministry of the Lutheran Transitional Ministry Association. These members have voting rights at the Annual Meetings and may serve on the Board and various committees.
2. Affiliate members: Transitional ministry practitioners who are not members of a Lutheran denomination and institutions, organizations and denominations who provide annual financial support and seek to advance the mission of the Lutheran Transitional Ministry Association
The Board will determine the annual membership rates and any responsibilities and benefits for each class.

ARTICLE B-2 THE BOARD

Makeup of the Board
1. The Board of LuTMA will serve as the governing body of LuTMA and oversee the organization between Annual Meetings of LuTMA.
2. The Board will consist of four to seven members elected by current Voting Members at the LuTMA Annual Meeting.
3. No more than 50% of Board membership is to come from one denomination.
4. The Board will elect officers to include: Chair, Secretary and Treasurer.
5. The Treasurer may be a member of the Board. If not a member, the Treasurer will have voice but not vote.
6. All members of the Board are to be current voting members in good standing of LuTMA and their denomination. Board members will remain current members during their time of service on the Board.
Duties of the Board
1. The Board has the ultimate responsibility for all matters pertaining to the operation of LuTMA.
2. The Board may hire staff personnel as needed.
3. The Board may appoint task groups and committees as required to carry out its work. Task group and committee members shall be voting members of LuTMA.
4. The Board will receive reports from committees, task groups and staff members and act on recommendations in a timely manner.
5. The Board normally will meet monthly. Special meetings of the Board may be called by the chair, a majority of the members, or the Executive Director.
6. The Board will determine the methods to be used by the Board, all committees and the Annual Meeting regarding meetings and voting. These may include various technological means in addition to persons meeting in assembly.
Terms of Office
1. The officers of the corporation shall be Chair, Secretary, and Treasurer, with the usual duties of those offices. Officers will be elected by the Board.
2. Board members may serve two successive three-year terms. Board members shall begin their term at the Board meeting following election.
3. Board members shall be eligible for election for subsequent terms following a one-year hiatus after six years of service.
4. In the event of an unexpired term, a replacement shall be appointed by the Board to serve until the next Annual Meeting. The replacement representative shall be eligible for a full term upon completion of the unexpired term.
5. Terms of membership on the Board begin at the meeting following election or appointment.

ARTICLE B-3 STAFF

The Board may hire staff members as needed to conduct the work of LuTMA.
All staff involved with the financial transactions will be covered by insurance and/or bond.
A written job description will be approved by the Board for each staff position authorized by the Board.
The Board will hire an Executive Director to carry out the daily functions of the Organization.
The Executive Director may serve concurrently as the Treasurer of the Board.

ARTICLE B-4 STANDING COMMITTEES

Each standing committee shall have a Board member either elected as a member of the committee or appointed by the Board as a liaison member if no Board member is elected. Liaison member will have voice but no vote.
The Chairperson for each standing committee shall be selected by the committee and approved by the Board.

Education Committee

There shall be an Education Committee to develop and recommend the educational programs of LuTMA for Board approval.
The Education Committee shall:
1. Develop goals, objectives, content blocks, and learning designs that reflect the LuTMA rationale published in the LuTMA educational resources.
2. Interview and recommend to the Board (in accordance with Constitution C-4.7 and bylaw B-2.B.2.) the Dean of the Faculty. The Dean of the Faculty will oversee the faculty in coordination with the Education Committee. The Dean of the Faculty will be contracted as a LuTMA staff member for a three-year, renewable term.
3. Receive and review applications for apprentice trainers and recommend trainers for faculty status in accordance with approved guidelines for this process.
4. Receive, review and recommend course proposals.
5. Review revise, justify, and recommend course fees.
6. Review, revise and recommend faculty stipends.
7. Receive reports, review and evaluate:
  1. the effectiveness of course offerings
  2. the effectiveness of faculty performance;
  3. the transition ministry educational needs of judicatories and congregations. Committee findings and recommendations shall be presented to the Board for final approval.
Makeup of the committee
1. The Education Committee as a sub-committee of the Board, shall consist of four or more members appointed by the Board. The Board will seek volunteers for the committee.
2. The Board will determine the size and work of this committee and make the appointments as needed.
3. The Board and Education Committee will seek representation from the various Lutheran denominations represented by the current voting membership
4. Each member may serve two consecutive three-year terms. After a year hiatus, a member may be reappointed by the Board.
5. The committee Chairperson shall serve for no more than three consecutive years.
6. Terms of membership on the committee begin at the meeting following appointment
Meetings of the committee shall be held at least quarterly, or called at the discretion of the Chairperson, by a majority of the members, or at the request of the Board or Executive Director.

Conference Planning Committee

There shall be a Conference Planning Committee to assist the Executive Director and the Board in planning for the Annual Conference.
The Conference Planning Committee responsibilities include but are not limited to the following:
1. Gather a list of potential presenters for the Conference.
2. Interview the proposed presenters for the Conference for appropriate topics and cost.
3. Assist the Executive Director as necessary with speaker contract and other arrangements for the conference.
4. Recruit the following key support personnel for the conference. This may include but is not limited to the following:
  1. Person to serve as Master of Ceremonies
  2. Critical Incident Review presenters
  3. Chaplain
  4. Judicatory representatives (give them guidelines for their time on the schedule)
  5. Representatives of other organizations for presentations, displays, etc.
  6. Presenters for any workshops or discussion groups
5. The committee will assist presenters regarding arrangements/materials, etc.
6. The committee will assist the Executive Director with onsite registration
7. The Conference Planning Committee shall seek final approval of the Board before making final arrangements regarding fees, a speaker, the final schedule, and recruiting the individuals to assist with the various activities.
Makeup of the Committee
1. The Conference Planning Committee as a sub-committee of the Board, shall consist of four or more members appointed by the Board. The Board will seek volunteers for the committee.
2. The Board will determine the size and work of this committee and make the appointments as needed.
3. The Board and Conference Planning Committee will seek representation from the various Lutheran denominations represented by the current voting membership
4. Each member may serve two consecutive three-year terms. After a year hiatus, a member may be reappointed by the Board.
5. The committee Chairperson shall serve for no more than three consecutive years.
6. Terms of membership on the committee begin at the meeting following appointment
Meetings of the Committee shall be held at least quarterly or called at the discretion of the Chairperson, by a majority of the members, or at the request of the Board, or Executive Director.

ARTICLE B-5 SPECIAL COMMITTEES

NOMINATING COMMITTEE
1. The Board will determine the size and work of this committee and make the appointments as needed.
2. The Nominating Committee will propose a slate of nominees for election to the Board.
3. The Nominating Committee will seek representation from the various Lutheran denominations represented by the current voting membership.
4. The slate of nominees will be presented to the membership at least thirty days prior to the Annual Meeting.
5. Members of the Nominating Committee are eligible to be nominated for a position on the Board.
FINANCE COMMITTEE
1. The Board will appoint a committee of three persons not on the Board to review finances at a frequency determined by the Board.
OTHER COMMITTEES
1. Other committees and task groups will be appointed by the Board as deemed necessary to accomplish the work of the Board and advance the mission of the Lutheran Transitional Ministry Association.

ARTICLE B-6 RELATIONSHIPS WITH OTHER RELIGIOUS BODIES

While LuTMA is an association for Lutheran transitional ministers, Affiliate Membership is open to interim ministry practitioners of other religious bodies.
LuTMA is distinctly an association for transitional ministry; therefore, the organization in its Board activities and Annual Conferences will not engage in divisive theological discussions and/or controversies between denominations and other religious bodies.

ARTICLE B-7 REVISION OF THE BY-LAWS

Revision of the By-Laws of The Lutheran Transitional Ministry Association may be made by action of the Board with ratification by majority vote of the current voting members present at the next annual meeting. Notice of proposed changes shall be submitted to the members for review at least 30 days prior to the Annual Meeting.